Jailbreak Concepts That Apple Should Add In iOS 6 [Feature]

Apple is expected to unveil iOS 6, the next major iteration of its software platform for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, at WWDC in two weeks. Not much is known about iOS 6, other than the new Maps app and the possibility of a more metallic look. Many have been speculating about what Apple could introduce, and we at Cult of Mac have a few ideas we’d like to see come to fruition.

The iOS jailbreak community has been innovating at a quicker pace than Apple for years. Jailbreakers had multitasking first, tethering first, iTunes WiFi sync first, and so on. There are many jailbreak concepts currently available for iOS 5 that we’d love to see Apple implement in iOS 6. That’s not to say that Apple will adopt all of these concepts, but we expect at least a few to show up in a way that only Apple can make happen.

Revamped Multitasking

iOS 6 is due for a refresh of how we multitask on a mobile phone. The original iPhone didn’t have multitasking, and it wasn’t until iOS 4 in 2010 that the app switcher was finally introduced. You can double tap the Home button to invoke a small tray that contains recently opened apps. Tapping and holding an icon will allow you to remove or rearrange apps in a watered-down multitasking environment. There’s no way to view a quick preview of an app before you select it, and 80% of the iPhone’s screen isn’t even in use. There are better ways to tackle multitasking.

Jailbreak developers have been rethinking iOS multitasking for years (they were the first ones to originally make it possible), and there are some great examples available now in Cydia, the jailbreak alternative to the App Store.

CardSwitcher brings a webOS multitasking feel to iOS.

Multifl0w turns iOS multitasking into a card-like experience. Borrowing from Palm’s webOS, you can view open apps as standalone windows and flick through them or choose from a full thumbnail presentation. It may not be what Apple decides to go with, but it’s something different.

Switchy grows the app switcher.

There’s also Switchy, a creative take on the current app switcher that would make sense for the rumored 4-inch iPhone. Instead of having one row of icons, there are two, and the tweak includes a couple pages for music controls and quick access to device settings. Apple could add to the current multitasking switcher tray by implementing similar enhancements.

Bringing the windowed desktop environment to mobile.

Quasar lets jailbreakers have windowed app management on the iPad, and while it’s a great feat of engineering, Apple is unlikely to approach iPad multitasking the same way. The magic of an iOS device is its ability to essentially become any given app. When you tap an icon, the app fills the screen. Traditional app windowing seems like a step backwards, but that’s not to say the iPad doesn’t deserve a multitasking upgrade.

Notification Center Additions

How could Apple enhance the Notification Center?

Apple introduced the iOS 5 Notification Center last summer, and the feature was a very welcomed improvement to the way iOS handled incoming notifications. Instead of an obtrusive dialog box for each incoming message, Notification Center will display messages as banners at the top of the screen. You can customize which apps notify you in a certain way and so on. All notifications are collected on the iOS lock screen and a handy window that can be pulled down from the top of the screen at any time.

While Notification Center is definitely a step up, Apple could take it to an even higher level in iOS 6.

We need finer control of our notifications.

Collapsable notifications. The ability to reply directly to messages without entering an app. A swipe gesture to clear notifications. The ability to quickly clear app badges. Something that looks better than that terrible grey linen. These are only a few of the improvements we’d like to see Apple make to Notification Center. Jailbreak tweaks like Bulletin and BlurriedNCBackground accomplish some of these things already.

SBSettings toggles in Notification Center? Sure.

And why not implement something like SBSettings for quick access to system toggles? Instead of having to open the Settings app to turn WiFi off, you could simply toggle it off right in the Notification Center window.

Enhanced Messaging

This isn't enough.

Jailbreak extensions like biteSMS and Messages+ turn Apple’s stock Messages app into a real powerhouse. Instead of having to open the actual app to reply to texts, you can quick reply anywhere in iOS as the messages arrives. Messages+ lets you compose a new message by performing a swipe gesture with your finger, and messages can be dismissed for viewing later. Those subtle, yet powerful, improvements Apple could add to Messages to make it a truly efficient app.

Visit the next page for Widget Platform, Smarter Siri, More Privacy Controls, iPhone Gestures, Home Screen Improvements, and other Notable Mentions!

Great article, and I’m checking out some of the Cydia tweaks you mention right now. One problem, though: the Calendar app does display the date. Not the full date, granted, but it shows the day of the week and the day of the month.

RyanTV

“Wouldn’t it be nice to see the Calendar app display the current date in its icon each day?”

It already does that.

JacksMacintosh

Is it just me, or does no one seem to remember that Siri is still in Beta?

Singh Amardeep

They Need To Have “SwipeSelection” tweak in ios 6. New editing type needs in ios 6.

Jonathan Ober

They Need To Have “SwipeSelection” tweak in ios 6. New editing type needs in ios 6.

They also need to add the ability to jump up and down lines by sliding your finger up and down.

technochick

Actually that headline should be “Concepts I wish Apple would add”. Nothing on this list is a must have. Not even close.

DeltaNC

Whoever wrote this article clearly has little understanding of user interface design, or design at all, because most of the suggestions in this article left me pulling a Jackie Chan face.

hansonflint

How about allowing us to root our device – say by toggling it into an unsupported “Expert Mode?” Then we can manage it with Windows Explorer, drag files back and forth, etc etc etc. Free from the moronic hell that is iTunes.

Diehard Mac Cultists (today’s AOLers) can choose to remain locked into the gated theme park designed to keep them stupid, while the rest of us can move forward.

Everyone wins.

hansonflint

How about allowing us to root our device – say by toggling it into an unsupported “Expert Mode?” Then we can manage it with Windows Explorer, drag files back and forth, etc etc etc. Free from the moronic hell that is iTunes.

Diehard Mac Cultists (today’s AOLers) can choose to remain locked into the gated theme park designed to keep them stupid, while the rest of us can move forward.

Everyone wins.

Gabriel Martin

Guys….

Here are the FACTS…

BASED ON SURVEY, if NOT for jailbreaking communities – ios is DEAD now…

If theres no jailbreak, ios is the most boring OS in planet earth (also thanks for hundreds thousands apps – full of farts apps – steve jobs paid a lot to the developers before just to made them exclusive since 2007 BUT some of them are making apps now for android & windows)

Apple & ios will not be most popular in 2020 as that year – android & windows will be the one in the forefront – mark my words….

Shyam Bhat

I’m prefer jail breaking iOS 5 instead of upgrading to iOS 6, if Apple fails to introduce these features. But Apple being Apple, will always market their software as the most earth shattering piece of software and will hypnotize me to upgrade to the latest :(